Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Hannah's Prayer
2 And Hannah prayed and said,
(A)“My heart exults in the Lord;
(B)my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because (C)I rejoice in your salvation.
2 (D)“There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is (E)no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
4 (F)The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
(G)The barren has borne seven,
(H)but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 (I)The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 (J)The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
(K)he brings low and he exalts.
8 (L)He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
(M)to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
(N)For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.
9 (O)“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 (P)The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
(Q)against them he will thunder in heaven.
(R)The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
(S)and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Samuel Given to the Lord
21 The man Elkanah and all his house (A)went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord (B)and dwell there forever.” 23 (C)Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; (D)only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, (E)she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,[a] an ephah[b] of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to (F)the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! (G)As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, (H)and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”
(I)And he worshiped the Lord there.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
11 But as for you, (A)O man of God, (B)flee these things. (C)Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 (D)Fight the good fight of the faith. (E)Take hold of the eternal life (F)to which you were called and about which you made (G)the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 (H)I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, (I)who in his testimony before[a] Pontius Pilate made (J)the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until (K)the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display (L)at the proper time—he who is (M)the blessed and only Sovereign, (N)the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 (O)who alone has immortality, (P)who dwells in (Q)unapproachable light, (R)whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17 As for the rich in (S)this present age, charge them (T)not to be haughty, nor (U)to set their hopes on (V)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, (W)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, (X)to be rich in good works, to be generous and (Y)ready to share, 19 thus (Z)storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may (AA)take hold of (AB)that which is truly life.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. (AC)Avoid the (AD)irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.